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NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 









NURSERY TALES FROM 
MANY LANDS 


ELEANOR L. SKINNER 


I* 

TEACHER OF ENGLISH, NORTH HIGH SCHOOL, COLUMBUS, OHIO 


AND 

ADA M. SKINNER 

ST. AGATHA SCHOOL, NEW YORK CITY 


ILLUSTRATED BY 

BLANCHE FISHER WRIGHT 


CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS 


NEW YORK 


CHICAGO 


BOSTON 


Copyright, 1917 , by 
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS 


t \ 


JUN 21 191? 



©CIA470039 

^ I 


PREFACE 


b 


In the far-off days when the story-teller watched 
his listeners in order to let their faces guide or quicken 
his inspiration he must have been in close sympathy 
with the eager children who stood near him. Some- 
times he pleased their vivid imaginations with a 
cumulative tale in which the emphasis of rhythmic 
repetitions helped the story to unfold simply and 
directly and at the same time gave the delighted 
children a feeling of growing familiarity with each 
recurring cycle. Or perhaps he told a simple folk 
tale in which the actors — human beings or animals — 
revealed in their experiences some hint of a universal 
truth. Sometimes a genuine fairy-tale with a well- 
developed plot was his theme, and by means of artistic 
imagery he flashed forth the lasting vision of an ideal. 
Through the ages the story-teller’s tales have been 
bequeathed as a rich inheritance to the children of 
to-day. ! 

The stories chosen for this little book are culled 
from many lands, but the universal elements of the 
well-loved nursery tale are present in all. A number 
of them are translated directly from original sources. 
“Poor Old Good” is an adaptation from the Chinese 
v t 


PREFACE 


translation by Dr. Isaac Taylor Headland, late of 
Pekin University. 44 Little Black Ant,” a prime fa- 
vorite with Spanish children, is an adaptation from a 
translation by Isabel K. Macdermott. 44 Monotaro,” a 
rare version of the Japanese tale, 44 The Peach Boy,” 
is an adaptation by Frances Little. 44 Frolic of the 
Wild Things” is a North American Indian nursery 
tale by Pee-ahm-e-squeet of the O jib way tribe. 44 The 
Pear Tree” and 44 The Three Friends” are translations 
from the German. Some of the tales are old nursery 
favorites which could not be spared from any collec- 
tion. 

The appeal of the subject matter and the grading 
of the vocabulary make it evident that the book is 
planned as a supplementary reader for the second or 
third grade. 

Acknowledgment for material used is due to Mr. 
Clement Richardson, of the Tuskegee Normal and 
Industrial Institute, for 44 Simon and the Black Gum 
Tree”; to Mr. Clifton Johnson and the Little, Brown 
Co. for “Travels of a Fox”; to the Houghton, Mifflin 
Co. for “Buchettino,” from 44 Popular Italian Tales,” 
by Frank Crane; and to B. H. Blackwell for the Rus- 
sian tale from Carrick’s 44 Picture Tales from the 
Russian.” 


vi 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


Little White Rabbit 

. Portuguese 

3 

The Pear Tree 

German 

9 

The Teeny Tiny Woman . 

English 

14 

The Wee Bannock 

Scotch . 

16 

The Three Friends 

. German 

20 

Munachar and Manachar .... 

Celtic . 

27 

The Three Little Pigs 

English . 

33 

Travels of a Fox 

. New England . 

40 

Frolic of the Wild Things .... 

i 

North American 
Indian 

47 

Little Black Ant 

. Spanish 

53 

Lambikin 

. East Indian 

60 

Poor Old Good 

Chinese 

67 

Peter, Basil, and the Fox . 

. Russian 

75 


vii 


CONTENTS 


Little Two Eyes German 

Buchettino Italian . 

The Straw Ox Russian 

Simon and the Black Gum Tree Negro . 

Monotaro Japanese 

Suggestions to Teachers 


PAGE 

81 

94 

100 

110 

119 

131 



viii 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 









LITTLE WHITE RABBIT 


Little White Rabbit lived alone. Her house 
stood near a cabbage-garden. Every morning 
when the sun peeped into the window, up 
she jumped and dressed for the day. Then 
she would say, 

“ I must go for a cabbage 
To make me some soup.” 

One day she put on her bonnet, took up 
her basket, and started off. She found a 
large cabbage and hurried home. Little White 
Rabbit tried to open her door. It was locked 

on the inside. 

She knocked and thumped and thumped 
and knocked. 

A big voice inside called out, “ Who is 
there ? ” 

“ I’m Little White Rabbit, 

Come home from the garden, 

Where I found a large cabbage 
To make me some soup.” 


3 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 
Then the big voice inside called out, 


“I am Huge Billy Goat. 

With a spring and a bound 
I can cut you in three 
And eat you, I see.” 

Poor Little White Rabbit ran away. On 
the road she met Big Ox.. She said to him, 
“ Big Ox, please help me. 

I’m Little White Rabbit. 

I went to the garden 
And took home a cabbage 
To make me some soup. 

When I came home 
I found Huge Billy Goat. 

With a spring and a bound 
He will cut me in three 
And eat me, you see.” 

Big Ox said, “ Oh, I cannot help you ! I 
am afraid of Huge Billy Goat.” 

Little White Rabbit went on. Soon she 
met Black Dog. She said to him, “ Black 
Dog, please help me. 


t 


4 



I’m Little White Rabbit. 

I went to the garden 
And took home a cabbage 
To make me some soup. 
AVhen I came home 
I found Huge Billy Goat. 
With a spring and a bound 
He will cut me in three 
And eat me, you see/’ 


* 


5 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

Black Dog said, “Then I cannot help yon. 
I am afraid of Huge Billy Goat.” 

Little White Rabbit Avent on and on. 
Soon she met Red Cock. She said to him, 
“Red Cock, please help inc. 

I’m Little White Rabbit. 

I went to the garden 
And took home a cabbage 
To make me some soup. 

When I came home 
I found Huge Billy Goat. 

With a spring and a bound 
He will cut me in three 
And eat me, you see.” 

“ Oh, I cannot help you ! I am afraid of 
Huge Billy Goat.” 

Poor Little White Rabbit said, “No one 
will help me to drive Huge Billy Goat out of 
my house. What shall I do ? Where can I 
go?” 

On and on and on went Little White 
Rabbit weeping. Soon a small voice called 
out, “ Good morning, Little White Rabbit ! 
Why do you weep?” It Avas Busy Little Ant. 


6 


LITTLE WHITE RABBIT 

Little White Rabbit said, 

“ Oh, Busy Little Ant, 

I went to the garden 
And took home a cabbage 
To make me some soup. 

When I came home 
I found Huge Billy Goat. 

With a spring and a bound 
He will cut me in three 
And eat me, you see.” 

Busy Little Ant said, “ I will go with you 
and help you, Little White Rabbit.” 

So they went back together to Little White 
Rabbit’s house. They knocked and thumped 
on the door. A gruff voice inside called out, 

“ I am Huge Billy Goat. 

With a spring and a bound 
I can cut you in three 
And eat you, I see.” 

Then Busy Little Ant called out, 

“I am Busy Little Ant. 

With a creep and a spring 


7 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


I can quickly come in 
And sting you, I see.” 

Busy Little Ant crept in through the key- 
hole. She sprang on Huge Billy Goat’s back 
and stung him. 

“ Oh ! Oh ! Oh ! ” cried Huge Billy Goat, 
and out of Little White Rabbit’s house he 
ran as fast as he could. 

Then Little White Rabbit cut up the large 
cabbage and made soup. 

“Come, Busy Little Ant,” she said. “We 
will live here together.” 

Portuguese Nursery Tale. 



8 


Pfw: 



THE PEAR TREE 

Mother; Out in the meadow, there grows a big 
pear tree, 

A pear tree covered with leaves! 
Child: What else is there on this big tree? 

Mother : A wonderful branch ! 

Child: A branch on the tree, 

A tree in the earth; 

Out in the green meadow! 

Mother: Out in the meadow, there grows a big 
pear tree, 

A pear tree covered with leaves ! 
Child: What else is there on this big tree? 

Mother: A beautiful twig! 


9 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


Child : 


Mother : 


Child : 
Mother : 
Child : 


Mother : 


Child: 
Mother 
Child : 


A twig on the branch, 

A branch on the tree, 

A tree in the earth; 

Out in the green meadow! 

Out in the meadow, there grows a big 
pear tree, 

A pear tree covered with leaves ! 
What else is there on this big tree? 
A soft cozy nest! 

A nest on the twig, 

A twig on the branch, 

A branch on the tree, 

A tree in the earth; 

Out in the green meadow ! 

Out in the meadow, there grows a big 
pear tree, 

A pear tree covered with leaves! 
Who made that wee soft cozy nest? 
A little brown bird. 

A bird in the nest, 

A nest on the twig, 

A twig on the branch, 

A branch on the tree, 


10 







NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


A tree in the earth; 

Out in the green meadow! 

Mother: Out in the meadow, there grows a big 
pear tree, 

A pear tree covered with leaves ! 
Child : What grows on the little brown bird ? 
Mother : Some soft shining feathers ! 

Child: Feathers on the bird, 

A bird in the nest, 

A nest on the twig, 

A twig on the branch, 

A branch on the tree, 

A tree in the earth; 

Out in the green meadow! 

Mother: Out in the meadow, there grows a big 
pear tree, 

A pear tree covered with leaves ! 
Child: What becomes of the soft shining 
feathers ? 

Mother : They make a warm bed ! 

Child: A bed made of feathers, 

Feathers from the bird, 

A bird in the nest ? 


12 


THE PEAR TREE 


A nest on the twig, 

A twig on the branch, 

A branch on the tree, 

A tree in the earth ; 

Out in the green meadow! 

Mother: Out in the meadow, there grows a big 
pear tree, 

A pear tree covered with leaves! 
Child: Who sleeps in the warm little bed? 
Mother : A mother’s dear child ! 

Child: Mother’s dear in the bed, 

A bed made of feathers, 

Feathers from the bird, 

A bird in the nest, 

A nest on the twig, 

A twig on the branch, 

A branch on the tree, 

A tree in the earth; 

Out in the green meadow! 

Mother: Out in the meadow, there grows a big 
pear tree, 

A pear tree covered with leaves! 

German Nursery Tale. 


13 



THE TEENY TINY WOMAN 

Once upon a time there was a teeny tiny 
woman. She lived all alone in a teeny tiny 
house. 

One night when this teeny tiny woman 
was in her teeny tiny bed she heard a noise. 
Up she jumped from her teeny tiny bed and 
lighted her teeny tiny candle. 

She looked under her teeny tiny bed. 
There was nothing there. She looked behind 
her teeny tiny door. There was nothing 
there. 

So this teeny tiny woman blew out her 
teeny tiny candle and crept back into her 
teeny tiny bed. 

The teeny tiny woman closed her teeny 


14 


THE TEENY TINY WOMAN 

tiny eyes. She was just going to sleep when 
she heard a noise. 

Up she jumped out of her teeny tiny bed. 
She lighted her teeny tiny candle and crept 
down her teeny tiny stairs. She went into 
her teeny tiny kitchen. She looked under 
her teeny tiny chairs. There was nothing 
there. She looked under her teeny tiny 
stove. There was nothing there. 

So she crept up her teeny tiny stairs. 
She blew out her teeny tiny candle. She 
crept once more into her teeny tiny bed. 

This teeny tiny woman closed her teeny 
tiny eyes again. She was just going to sleep 
when she heard a noise. 

Up she jumped out of her teeny tiny bed. 

She lighted her teeny tiny candle. She 
crept down her teeny tiny stairs. She went 
into her teeny "tiny kitchen. She crept up to 
her teeny tiny cupboard. She opened the 
teeny tiny door. She took a teeny tiny peep 
in. And out jumped — boo! 

“ Well, well,” said the teeny tiny woman. 
To be frightened by nothing but — boo ! ” 

English Nursery Tale. 


15 


THE WEE BANNOCK 


One day an old woman made two fine 
oatmeal cakes and put them before the fire 
to toast. 

“ What fine bannocks ! ” said her husband 
when he saw them. “ There is nothing I like 
better than a good oatmeal bannock.” 

He picked up one of the cakes, broke it 
in two, and began to eat it. Then 

Out of the door the other cake ran, 
Crying out, “ Catch me if you can ! ” 

When the old woman saw the other wee 
bannock running away she ran after it, but 
she could not catch it. 

Down the road and over the hill rolled 
the wee bannock, until it came to a cottage 
where a farmer’s wife was churning. She 
was almost ready to take the butter from the 
churn. Her boy Jack stood near, watching. 
The door of the cottage stood wide open. 
Something rolled in and wheeled around the 
kitchen as fast as it could go. 

“ Look, mother ! What’s that ? ” cried Jack. 


16 


THE WEE BANNOCK 

“A wee bannock, lad,” she said. “Come, 
we’ll catch it and eat it with butter for dinner.” 

Away they started after the little cake. 
Jack upset the churn and the buttermilk ran 
all over the room. Then 

Out of the door the wee bannock ran, 
Crying out, “ Catch me if you can ! ” 

Down the road and across the fields rolled 
the wee bannock. Soon it came to a mill. 
The miller was filling a sack with meal, and 
his boy was waiting to take it to the village. 
The door of the mill stood open. Something 
rolled in and wheeled around the mill as fast 
as it could go. 

“ Look, lad, a w r ee bannock! ” said the miller. 
“ Come, we’ll catch it for dinner.” 

Away they started after the little cake. 
Jamie upset the sack and the meal poured 
out on the floor of the mill. Then 

Out of the door the wee bannock ran, 
Crying out, “ Catch me if you can ! ” 

Down the road and through the village 
rolled the wee bannock. Soon it came to a 


17 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


blacksmith’s shop. The smith was shoeing a 
horse for the farmer. The door of the shop 
stood open. Something rolled in and wheeled 
around the floor as fast as it could go. 

“ Oh, look ! What’s that ? ” cried the farmer. 

“A wee bannock, man,” said the blacksmith. 
“ Come, we’ll catch it and have a fine lunch.” 

Away they started after the little cake. 
It rolled around the anvil and then hid be- 
hind some iron in one corner of the shop. 

“ We’ll move every bit of the iron,” said 
the blacksmith. As they did so something 
slipped out from the heap, and 

Out of the door the wee bannock ran, 
Crying out, “ Catch me if you can ! ” 

Down the road and up the hill rolled the 
wee bannock. Soon it came to a shepherd’s 
cottage. The shepherd’s wife was making 
porridge for supper, and the shepherd was 
mending his crook. The door of the cottage 
stood open. Something rolled in and wheeled 
around the room as fast as it could go. 

“ Look ! What’s that ? ” cried the shepherd. 

18 


THE WEE BANNOCK 


“ A wee bannock,” said his wife. “ We’ll 
catch it and eat it with our porridge.” 

Away they started after the little cake. 
It rolled under the table and stood by the wall. 

“ Pull it out with your crook,” said his 
wife, “ and I’ll throw my spoon at it.” 

The shepherd reached under the table with 
his crook. But when the wife took her spoon 
out of the pot she upset the porridge. Then 

Out of the door the wee bannock ran, 
Crying out, “ Catch me if you can ! ” 

Down the hill rolled the wee bannock. 

“ I’ve had a long, long run,” it said. “ I’ll 
rest until to-morrow, for I’m very tired. I’ll 
sleep behind those bushes by the brook.” 
And away it rolled. 

“ What is this coming over the field ? ” 
said a sly fox who was under the bushes. “A 
wee bannock ! A fine supper for me ! ” 

He lay very still. The wee bannock rolled 
slowly toward the bushes. Snap ! Down the 
fox’s throat it went, and it hadn’t time to 
cry out, “ Catch me if you can ! ” 

Scotch Nursery Tale. 



T3FW7 


\ 

THE THREE FRIENDS 

A Mouse, a Sausage, and a Dried Pea 
lived together in a little house. Each day 
two of the friends went out to work and 
one stayed at home to make the soup. 

One day the Mouse and the Dried Pea 
said, 44 Sausage, you make the best soup. Tell 
us how you do it.” 

“Friends, I’ll tell you,” said the Sausage. 
“While the soup is boiling I run through it 
once or twice. That gives it a very nice 
taste.” t 


20 


THE THREE FRIENDS 


“ I’ll try that myself,” said the Mouse.” 

“ Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! ” laughed the Dried Pea. 

The next day the Sausage and the Dried 
Pea went to work and the Mouse stayed at 
home to make the soup. 

She said to herself, “ While it is boiling I 
shall run through it once or twice, as J8au- 
sage does. That gives it a very nice taste.” 

So when the soup was boiling poor Mouse 
ran through it once and was drowned. 

When the Sausage and the Dried Pea 
came home no Mouse was to be seen. 

They looked all through the house but 
they could not find her. 

What has become of our friend ?” asked 
the Sausage. 

“ Come, let us eat the soup,” said the 
Dried Pea. 

As soon as they looked into the soup pot 
they saw what had happened. 

“Oh, dear!” said the Sausage. “Poor Mouse 
is drowned in the soup.” 

“Drowned in the soup? Foolish Mouse!” 
said the Dried Pea. Then she laughed and 
laughed and laughed until her back burst 
21 


open. She ran to a cobbler who mended it 
with a black patch. Ever since that day all 
dried peas have a black patch on their sides. 

But the Sausage sat alone on the door- 
step crying, “ Poor Mouse, poor Mouse, poor 
Mouse ! ” 

A Dog came running down the lane. 

“Sausage, why do you cry?” he asked. 

“ How can I help it ? Poor Mouse was 
drowned in the soup.” 



THE THREE FRIENDS 


“ What ! The Mouse was drowned in the 
soup ? Then I will howl down the lane.” 

“Dog, Dog, why do you howl down the 
lane?” asked the Hedge that stood near. 

“ How can I help it ? 

The Mouse was drowned in the soup; 

The Sausage sits crying on the door- 
step. 

How can I help howling down the lane?” 

“ What ! The Mouse was drowned in the 
soup ? Then I’ll upset myself by the way- 
side,” 

“ Hedge, Hedge, why do you upset your- 
self by the wayside?” asked the Tree that 
stood near. 

“ How can I help it ? 

The Mouse was drowned in the soup; 

The Sausage sits crying on the door- 
step; 

The Dog is howling down the lane. 

How can I help upsetting myself by the 

wayside ?” 

“What! The Mouse was drowned in the 




23 


NURSERY TALES EROM MANY LANDS 

soup ? Then I’ll drop my leaves on the 
Pump.” 

“Tree, Tree, why do you drop your leaves 
on me?” asked the Pump that stood near. 

“How can I help it? 

The Mouse was drowned in the soup; 

The Sausage sits crying on the door- 
step ; 

The Dog is howling down the lane; 

The Hedge is upsetting itself by the 
wayside. 

How can I help dropping my leaves on 
you?” 

“ What ! The Mouse was drowned in the 
soup ? Then I’ll spout forth all the water 
from the well.” 

“ Pump, Pump, why do you spout forth 
all the water from the well?” asked the Maid 
who stood near. 

“How can I help it? 

The Mouse was drowned in the soup; 

The Sausage sits crying on the door- 
step; 


24 



The Dog is howling down the lane; 
The Hedge is upsetting itself by the 
roadside ; 

The tree is dropping its leaves on me. 
How can I help spouting forth all the 
water from the well ? ” 






25 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


“What! The Mouse was drdwned in the 
soup? Then 111 smash my pail into pieces.” 

“Maid, Maid, why do you smash your pail 
into pieces?” asked the Serving Lad who 
stood near. 

“How can I help it? 

The Mouse was drowned in the soup; 

The Sausage sits crying on the door- 
step; 

The dog is howling down the lane; 

The Hedge is upsetting itself by the 
wayside ; 

The Tree is dropping its leaves on the 
pump; 

The Pump is spouting forth all the 
water from the well. 

How can I help smashing my pail into 
pieces?” 

“ What ! The Mouse was drowned in the 
soup ? Then 111 run away into the wide, wide 
world,” said the Serving Lad. Away he went. 
On and on he ran, and for all we know he 
is running still! 

German Nursery Tale. 

26 


+ 



MUNACHAR AND MANACHAR 

Munachar and Manachar lived a long time 
ago. One day they went out to pick black- 
berries. But as fast as Munachar picked the 
blackberries Manachar ate them, every one. 

Munachar said, 

“I shall look for a reed 
To tie Manachar’s hands. 

He is eating my blackberries, every 
one.” 


27 


NURSERY TALES EROM MANY LANDS 

Munachar walked until he came to a reed 
growing near the brook. 

“What news do you bring ?” asked the 
reed. 

“I bring you no news,” said Munachar. 

“ I want a reed 

To tie Manachar’s hands. 

He is eating my blackberries, every 
one.” 

“You shall not get me,” said the reed, 
“ until you bring an axe to cut my stem.” 

Munachar walked on until he came to an 
axe near a wood-pile. 

“What news do you bring?” asked the 
axe. 

“I bring you no news,” said Munachar. 

I want an axe ; 

An axe to cut a reed; 

A reed to tie Manachar’s hands. 

He is eating my blackberries, every 
one.” 

“You shall not get me,” said the axe, 
“.until you fetch a stone to sharpen my 
edge.” 


28 


MUNACHAR AND MANACHAR 


Munachar walked on until he came to a 
stone near a wall. 

“What news do you bring?” asked the 
stone. 

“ I bring you no news,” said Munachar. 

“ I want a stone ; 

A stone to sharpen an axe; 

An axe to cut a reed; 

A reed to tie Manachar’s hands. 

He is eating my blackberries, every 
one.” 

“You shall not get me,” said the stone, 
“ until you fetch some water to wet me.” 

Munachar walked on until he came to a 
spring in the meadow. 

“What news do you bring?” asked the 
spring. 

“ I bring you no news,” said Munachar. 

“ I want some water ; 

Water to wet a stone; 

A stone to sharpen an axe; 

An axe to cut a reed; 

A reed to tie Manachar’s hands. 

He is eating my blackberries, every 
one.” 


29 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


“You shall not get me,” said the spring, 
“ until you drive the cow here to drink my 
water. ” 

Munachar walked on until he came to 
the cow in the barnyard. 

“What news do you bring ?” asked the 
cow. 

“ I bring you no news/' said Munachar. 

“ I want a cow ; 

A cow to drink some water; 

Water to wet a stone; 

A stone to sharpen an axe; 

An axe to cut a reed; 

' A reed to tie Manachar’s hands. 

He is eating my blackberries, every 
* * one.” 

“You shall not get me,” said the cow, 
“until you bring me a wisp of hay from the 
farmer.” 

Munachar walked on until he came to a 
farmer in the stable. 

“What news do you bring?” asked the 
farmer. 

“I bring you no news,” said Munachar. 


30 



“I want a wisp of hay; 

Hay to feed the cow; 

Cow to drink some water; 

Water to wet a stone; 

A stone to sharpen an axe; 

An axe to cut a reed; 

A reed to tie Manachar’s hands. 

He is eating my blackberries, every 
one.” 

“You shall not get a wisp of hay from 
me,” said the farmer, “ until you bring me 
water from the brook in a sieve.” 

So Munachar got a sieve and ran away to 
. the brook in the meadow. 


31 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

He filled the sieve with water and lifted 
it up. But the water ran through the sieve 
and left it empty. Again he filled the sieve 
with water and lifted it up. Again the water 
ran through the sieve and left it empty. 

“ Oh, what shall I do ? ” asked Munachar. 
“The water will not stay in the sieve.” 

A crow flew over the brook and cried out, 
“ Daub ! Daub ! Daub it with clay ! ” 

“ I never thought of that,” laughed Muna- 
char. 

He took up a handful of clay and daubed 
it all over the holes in the sieve. Then he 
filled the sieve with water and carried it to 
the farmer. 

The farmer gave a wisp of hay; 

The hay fed the cow; 

The cow drank the water; 

The water wet the stone; 

The stone sharpened the axe; 

The axe cut the reed. 

Away ran Munachar with the reed to tie 
Manachar’s hands. But the greedy Manachar 
had eaten all the blackberries — and had burst! 


32 


Celtic Nursery Tale. 


liF-W- 


THE THREE LITTLE PIGS 


Once upon a time three little pigs started 
out to seek their fortune. 

The first little pig met a man with a 
bundle of straw, and said to him, “ Please, 
man, give me that straw to build me a 
house." 

The man gave the straw, and the little 
pig built a house. 


33 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

By and by a wolf came along and knocked 
at the door of the little house, and said, 
“ Little pig, little pig, let me come in.” 

And the little pig said, “No, no, by the 
hair of my chinny, chin, chin.” 

And the wolf said, “ Then I’ll huff, and 
I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.” 

So he huffed, and he puffed, 

And he blew the house in. 

And he ate up that poor little pig. 

The second little pig met a man with a 
bundle of furze, and said to him, “ Please, 
man, give me that furze to build me a 
house.” 

The man gave the furze, and the little 
pig built a house. 

By and by a wolf came along and knocked 
at the door of the little house and said, 
“ Little pig, little pig, let me come in.” 

The little pig said, “ No, no, by the hair 
of my chinny, chin, chin.” 

And the wolf said, “ Then I’ll huff, and 
I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.” 


34 


THE THREE LITTLE PIGS 

So he huffed, and he puffed, 

And he blew the house in. 

And he ate up that poor little pig. 

The third little pig met a man with a 
load of bricks, and he said, “ Please, man, 
give me those bricks to build me a house.” 

The man gave the bricks and the little 
pig built a house. 

By and by a wolf came along and knocked 
at the door of the little house and said, 
“ Little pig, little pig, let me come in.” 

The little pig said, “ No, no, by the hair 
of my chinny, chin, chin.” 

And the wolf said, “ Then HI huff, and 
HI puff, and I’ll blow your house in.” 

So he huffed, and he puffed, 

And he puffed, and he huffed, 

But he could not blow 
That pig's house in. 

Then he said, “Little pig, I know where 
there is a field of nice turnips.” 

“Where?” asked the little pig. 


35 






THE THREE LITTLE PIGS 

“ In the home field. If you will be ready 
early to-morrow morning I will call for you. 
We will go together and get some for dinner.” 

“ Very well/’ said the little pig. “What 
time shall I be ready?” 

“ At six o'clock,” said the wolf. 

The little pig got up at five o'clock, pulled 
the turnips, and went back home. 

The wolf came at six o’clock and called 
out, “Little pig, are you ready?” 

“Ready! I’ve been and come back. I got 
a potful of nice turnips for dinner.” 

The wolf was angry, and he said to him- 
self, “ I’ll catch that little pig somehow.” 

So he called out, “ Little pig, I know where 
there is a nice apple-tree.” 

“Where?” asked the little pig. 

“ In the orchard not far from here,” said 
the wolf. “If you will wait for me I’ll come 
for you at five o’clock to-morrow morning. 
We will go together and get some for dinner.” 

But that little pig got up the next morn- 
ing at four o’clock and hurried off to get the 
apples. He hoped to get back before the 
wolf came, but he had far to go and had to 


37 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

climb the tree. Just as he was scrambling 
down the tree he saw the wolf coming. Lit- 
tle pig was very much frightened. When the 
wolf came up he said, “ Little pig, you are 
here before me. Are the apples sweet?” 

“ Yery sweet,” said the little pig. “ I will 
throw you down one.” 

He threw an apple far away from the tree. 
While the wolf was gone to pick it up the 
little pig jumped down and ran home. 

The next day the wolf came again to the 
little pig’s house and said, “ Little pig, there 
is a fair in the village this afternoon. Will 
you go ?” 

“Oh, yes!” said the little pig. “What 
time shall I be ready?” 

“At three,” said the wolf. 

So the little pig went to the fair before 
the time. He bought a butter-churn and was 
hurrying home with it when he saw the wolf 
coming. He did not know what to do. Then 
he said to himself, “ I’ll hide in the butter- 
churn.” He crept in, and by so doing he 
turned the churn round and round. It began 
to roll along, and soon it started rolling down 
38 


THE THREE LITTLE PIGS 


the hill with the little pig inside. This so 
frightened the wolf when he saw it that he 
ran home without going to the fair. 

The next day he went to the pig’s house 
and said, “ O little pig, when I was going to 
the fair I saw a great round thing which 
came rolling past me down the hill.” 

“Ha! Ha! Ha!” laughed the little pig. 
“ I frightened you, then, did I ? I had been 
to the fair and bought a butter-churn. When 
I saw you coming I got into it and rolled 
down the hill.” 

Then the wolf was very angry, and he said, 
“I will eat up that little pig. I’ll get down 
the chimney after him.” 

When the little pig saw what the wolf 
meant to do he made up a blazing fire and 
hung over it a potful of water. Just as the 
wolf was coming down the chimney the little 
pig took off the pot-lid and — splash ! In fell 
the wolf! And the little pig ate the wolf for 
supper and lived happily ever afterward. 

English Nursery Tale. 


39 


THE TRAVELS OF A FOX 


Once upon a time a fox was travelling 
along the road. He stopped to dig behind 
the stump of a tree. Up flew a large bumble- 
bee which he caught and put into a bag. On 
walked the fox until he came to the first house. 

“May I leave my bag here while I go to 
Squintum’s ? ” he asked the mistress. 

“ Yes, sir, you may,” said the woman. 

“Be very careful not to open the bag,” 
said the fox. 

But as soon as he was out of sight the 
woman opened a corner of the bag and 
peeped in. 

Buzz ! Buzz ! Buzz ! Out flew the bee. 
Snap ! The old woman’s little rooster caught 
him and ate him up. 

In a little while the fox came back. He 
looked into his bag and said, “ Where is my 
bumblebee ? ” 

“ Oh, sir,” said the woman, “ I opened a 
corner of the bag to see what was in *it. Out 


40 



flew the bee. My little rooster caught him 
and ate him up.” 

“ Very well,” said the fox, “ I must have 
the little rooster, then.” 

So he caught the rooster and put him 
into the bag. On walked the fox down the 
road until he came to the next house. 

“ May I leave my bag here while I go to 
Squintum’s ? ” he asked the mistress of the 
house. 

"Yes, sir, you may,” said the woman. 


41 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

“ Be very careful not to open the bag,” 
said the fox. 

But as soon as the fox was out of sight 
the woman opened a corner of the bag and 
peeped in. 

Flap! Flap! Flap! Out flew the rooster. 
Snap ! The old woman’s pig caught the little 
rooster and ate him up. 

In a little while the fox came back. He 
looked into the bag and said, “ Where is my 
little rooster?” 

“ Oh, sir,” said the woman, “ I opened a 
corner of the bag to see what was in it. Out 
flew the little rooster. My pig caught him 
and ate him up.” 

“Yery well, I must have the pig, then.” 

So the fox caught the pig and put him 
into the bag. On he walked down the road 
until he came to the next house. 

“ May I leave my bag here while I go to 
Squintum’s ? ” he asked the mistress of the 
house. 

“Yes, sir, you may,” said the woman. 

“Be very careful not to open the bag,” 
said the fox. 


42 


THE TRAVELS OF A FOX 

But as soon as the fox was out of sight 
the woman opened the bag and peeped in. 

“Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!” Out jumped 
the pig. Snap ! The old woman’s ox caught 
him and ate him up. 

In a little while the fox came back. He 
looked into his bag and said, “ Where is my 
pig?” 

“ Oh, sir,” said the woman, “ I opened the 
bag to see what was in it. Out jumped the 
pig. My ox caught him and ate him up.” 

“Very well,” said the fox. “I must have 
the ox, then.” 

So he caught the ox and put him into 
the bag. On walked the fox down the road 
until he came to the next house. 

“ May I leave my bag here while I go to 
Squintum’s?” he asked the mistress of the 
house. 

“ Yes, sir, you may,” said the woman. 

“ Be very careful not to open the bag,” 
said the fox. 

But as soon as the fox was out of sight 
the woman opened the bag and peeped in. 

Moo — oo — oo ! Out jumped the ox and 


43 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

ran out of the house. The woman’s little boy 
chased him far away over the fields. 

In a little while the fox came back. He 
looked into the bag and said, “ Where is my 
ox? ” 

“ Oh, sir,” said the woman, “ I opened the 
bag to see what was in it. Out jumped the 
ox. He ran out of the house and my little 
boy chased him far away over the fields.” 

“Very well,” said the fox. “I must have 
your little boy, then.” 

So he caught the woman’s little boy and 
put him into the bag. On walked the fox down 
the road until he came to the next house. 

“ May I leave my bag here while I go to 
Squintum’s ? ” he asked the mistress of the 
house. 

“ Yes, sir, you may,” said the woman. 

“ Be very careful not to open the bag,” 
said the fox. 

It happened that the woman was baking 
a cake. When she took it out of the oven 
the children cried out, “Please, mother, give 
me a piece of cake ! Please, mother, give me 
a piece of cake!” 


44 



And the little boy who was tied up in 
the bag smelled the cake and cried out, 
“ Please, mammy, give me a piece of cake!” 
The woman opened the bag and out 
45 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

stepped the little boy. She put the house-dog 
quickly into the bag and tied the bag up. 
Then she gave the little boy a piece of cake. 
He and the other children ate the cake and 
were very happy. 

In a little while the fox came hack. He 
thought his bag had not been opened for it 
was tied up as he had left it. He put it 
over his back and walked on down the road 
and into the deep woods. He sat down and 
untied his bag. 

Bow, wow, wow! Out jumped the house- 
dog and ate up that fox. 

New England Nursery Tale. 



46 


FROLIC OF THE WILD THINGS 


Out on the prairie in a buffalo skull live 
the little field-mice. 

Merry little field-mice 
All snug and warm. 

At night they build a big bright fire and 
dance and sing. 

Merry little field-mice 
All snug and warm, 

Dance and sing, 

“ We — oh, 

We — oh, 

We — oh.” 

The snow falls white and fast but the fire 
burns bright and they are warm and dry as 
they sing, 


“ We — oh, 

We— oh, 

We— oh.” 


47 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

But what is this strange thing we see 
hopping and hopping over the snow ? It is 
Big White Rabbit. He hops and hops. Each 
time his hind feet come together they make 
one track in the snow — a funny, funny track. 

He sits up straight on his strong hind 
legs and his fore paws hang down. His long 
ears stand up high and his big eyes see all 
around. He calls and wriggles his funny nose 
and more rabbits come, and more, and more ! 
They dance around the buffalo skull when 

Merry little field-mice 
All snug and warm, 

Dance and sing, 
u We — oh, 

We— oh, 

We — oh.” 

What strange sound comes on the wind? 
It is not the song of the merry little field- 
mice. Big White Rabbit sits up straight and 
gives a cry. Away to the east, south, and 
west they all go. 

Lean Gray Wolf comes creeping, creeping, 

48 






creeping up. He smells in the snow the 
tracks of the little white rabbits. He sniffs, 
and sniffs, and sniffs. Dragging his long tail 
over the snow, around and around he goes. 
Then he sits and howls to the moon. He 
wants the little white rabbits for his supper. 
But they have gone hopping, hopping, hop- 
ping, while in the buffalo skull out on the 
prairie 


49 



Merry little field-mice 
All snug and warm, 

Dance and sing, 

“ We — oh, 

We— oh, 

We— oh ! ” 

Hark! What other strange sound comes 
on the wind? 

“ Hoot — ta — hoot — ta — hoo — a, 

IT oot — ta — hoot — ta — hoo, 

says Big Owl. 



50 


FROLIC OF THE WILD THINGS 

Away to the woods runs Lean Gray Wolf. 

Out go the fires in the buffalo skull and 
the mice creep away to bed. 

“ Quick ! Quick ! Quick ! ” says Mother 
Mouse. She knows that Big Owl is fond of 
mice. She knows, too, that Big Owl watches 
over the prairie for fires in the buffalo skull. 

Now the merry little field-mice are snug 
in bed all covered up tight. No longer they 
sing, 

“ We — oh, 

We — oh, 

We — oh ! ” 

Morning comes. Big Owl goes to sleep 
with his head under his wing and his big 
eyes are shut up tight. He cannot see the 
merry little field-mice come out of the buf- 
falo skull and scamper away to hunt for dried 
seeds. All day they sing, 

“ We — oh, 

We — oh, 

We— oh!” 

Hark! Another strange sound comes on 
the wind. 


51 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

“ Hi — oh, ki — oh, 

Hi — oh, ki — oh!” 

call the little Indian hoys and girls. They 
come running over the hill with a net on a 
pole. They catch Big Owl and carry him 
home to the camp. He is tied to the lodge- 
pole. All day he sits and blinks in the sun. 
All night he calls out, 

“ Hoot — ta — hoot — ta — hoo — a, 

Hoot— ta — hoot — ta hoo ! ” 

The little Indian boys and girls are wrapped 
in a buffalo-skin. With their heads to the 
fire they sleep and dream while the snow 
falls fast and white. 

The white rabbits hop, the lean wolf 
howls, and the merry little field-mice sing, 


“ We — oh, 

We— oh, 

We— oh ! ” 

North American Indian Nursery Tale. 


52 



LITTLE BLACK ANT 

Once upon a time Little Black Ant washed 
her little black face and put on a pretty 
black gown. She sat near the window of her 
neat little house. 

A bull passed by and looked at her. 

“ Good morning, pretty one,” roared he. 
“ Tell me, will you marry me ? ” 

“ Ah, you must win me first,” said she. 
The bull roared so loud that Little Black 
Ant covered her ears with her hands. 

“ Big Bull, go on your way,” said she. 

A dog passed by and looked at her. 

“ Good morning, pretty one,” barked he. 
“ Tell me, will you marry me ? ” 


53 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

“ Ah, you must win me first/' said she. 
The dog barked so sharp that Little Black 
Ant covered her ears with her hands. 

“ Fierce dog, go on your way,” said she. 

A cat passed by and looked at her. 

“ Good morning, pretty one," mewed he. 
“Tell me, will you marry me?" 

“ Ah, you must win me first," said she. 
The cat mewed so long that Little Black 
Ant covered her ears with her hands. 

“ Sly cat, go on your way," said she. 

A pig passed by and looked at her. 

“ Good morning, pretty one," grunted he. 
“ Tell me, will you marry me ? " 

“ Ah, you must win me first," said she. 
The pig grunted so fast that Little Black 
Ant covered her ears with her hands. 

“ Fat pig, go on your way," said she. 

A rat passed by and looked at her. 

“Good morning, pretty one," squeaked he. 
“ Tell me, will you marry me ? " 


54 


LITTLE BLACK ANT 


“Ah, you must win me first/’ said she. 

The rat squeaked so softly that Little Black 
Ant said to him, “ Mr. Ratsmith, I will marry 
you.” 

The next day they were married. All 
their friends said, “ How happy Mr. and Mrs. 
Ratsmith are!” 

One day the little wife said, “ Mr. Rat- 
smith, I am going to church. Stir the soup 
while I am gone. Be sure to use a spoon 
with a long handle.” 

But Mr. Ratsmith forgot what his wife had 
said. He stirred the soup with a short spoon. 
Splash! He fell into the soup-pot and was 
drowned. 



55 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


When his wife came home she went to 
the kitchen. What a sad sight ! Her hus- 
band was drowned in, the soup-pot. Mrs. Rat- 
smith sat on her door-step and wept and wept. 

Song-Bird hopped up to her and said, 

“ Little Black Ant, 

With tearful eye, 

Pray tell me why 
You grieve and cry.” 

“ Poor Ratsmith is drowned in the soup- 
pot,” said Little Black Ant. 

“ Then I’ll cut off my bill,” chirped Song- 
Bird. 

When Turtle-Dove saw Song-Bird she said, 

“ Tell me, Song-Bird, if you will, 

Why did you cut off your bill ? ” 

“ Poor Ratsmith is drowned in the soup- 
pot,” said Song-Bird. 

“ And Little Black Ant, 

With tearful eye, 

Does nothing now 
But grieve and cry.” 

56 


LITTLE BLACK ANT 


“Then I’ll clip my tail,” cooed Turtle-Dove. 
Away she flew to her little house. 

When Dovecot saw Turtle-Dove she said, 

“ Oh, sweetest bird of all the dale, 

Why did you clip off your tail?” 

“ Poor Ratsmith is drowned in the soup- 
pot,” said Turtle-Dove. 

“ And Little Black Ant, 

With tearful eye, 

Does nothing now 
But grieve and cry. 

“ Song-Bird has cut off his bill and I have 
clipped my pretty tail.” 

“ Then I’ll turn myself upside down,” said 
Dovecot. 

When Crystal Fountain saw Dovecot she 
said, 

“ Dovecot, will you tell to me 
Why upside down you seem to be ? ” 

“ Poor Ratsmith is drowned in the soup- 
pot,” said Dovecot. 


57 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


“ And Little Black Ant, 

With tearful eye, 

Does nothing now 
But grieve and cry. 

“ Song-Bird has cut off his bill, Turtle-Dove 
has clipped her pretty tail, and I’ve turned 
myself upside down.” 

“ Then I’ll overflow,” said Crystal Fountain. 

When Royal Princess saw Crystal Fountain 
she said, 

“ Oh, Crystal Fountain, tell to me 
Why you flow away to the deep blue sea?” 

“ Poor Ratsmith is drowned in the soup- 
pot,” said Crystal Fountain. 

“ And Little Black Ant, 

With tearful eye, 

Does nothing now 
But grieve and cry. 

“ Song-Bird has cut off his bill, Turtle-Dove 
has clipped her pretty tail, Dovecot has turned 
upside down, and I am flowing away to the 
deep blue sea.” 


58 


LITTLE BLACK ANT 


“ Then I'll break my pitcher/’ cried Royal 
Princess. 

So Royal Princess broke her pitcher; 
Crystal Fountain flowed to the sea; 
Dovecot turned herself upside down; 
Turtle-Dove clipped her tail; 

Song-Bird cut off his bill. 

All this because poor Ratsmith was 
drowned in the soup-pot. 

And Little Black Ant, 

With tearful eye, 

Does nothing now 
But grieve and cry. 

Spanish Nursery Tale. 



59 


LAMBIKIN 


Once upon a time there was a wee, wee 
Lambikin who frisked about on his little legs 
and was happy all day long. 

One day Lambikin set off to visit his 
Granny. As he went along he jumped for joy 
to think of all the good things Granny would 
give him to eat. 

On the way he met a jackal, who looked 
at him and said, 

“ Lambikin, Lambikin, I’m going to eat 
you.” 

But Lambikin frisked about and said, 

“ To Granny's house I go, 

Where 1 shall fatter grow; 

Then you may eat me so." 

“ You'll be better to eat when you are 
fatter, Lambikin. I’ll wait," said the jackal. 
So he let Lambikin go on. 

By and by Lambikin met a tiger, who 
looked at him and said, 


60 





NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

“ Lambikin, Lambikin, I’m going to eat 
you.” 

But Lambikin frisked about and said, 

“To Granny’s house I go, 

Where I shall fatter grow; 

Then you may eat me so.” 

“You’ll be better to eat when you are 
fatter, Lambikin. I’ll wait,” said the tiger. 
So he let Lambikin go on. 

By and by he met a wolf, and then he 
met a dog, and then he met an eagle. Each 
one of these said to him, 

“ Lambikin, Lambikin, I’m going to eat 
you.” 

But to each one Lambikin said, 

“ To Granny’s house I go, 

Where I shall fatter grow; 

Then you may eat me so.” 

On Lambikin went until he reached Gran- 
ny’s house. He said to her, “ Granny, dear, 
I’ve promised that I shall fatter grow, so 
please put me into the corn-bin at once 


62 



“Well,” said Granny, “you're a good little 
Lambikin. Into the corn-bin you shall go at 
once.” 

There he stayed seven days. He ate and 
ate and ate. He grew so fat he could scarcely 
walk. 

“You are fat enough now, Lambikin, and 
you must go home.” 


63 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


But cunning Lambikin said, “ Oh, Granny, 
that will never do. I’m so plump and tender 
that some animal will eat me. I will tell you 
what to do. Make me a wee drumikin out of 
an old skin. I can sit inside and trundle 
along nicely, for I’m as tight as a drum my- 
self.” 

So Granny made a wee drumikin with the 
wool inside. Lambikin curled himself up snug 
and warm in the middle and trundled away. 

By and by he met the eagle, who called 
out, 

“ Drumikin ! Drumikin ! 

Have you seen Lambikin?” 

And wee Lambikin, curled up in his wee 
drumikin, called out, 

“ Fallen into the fire. 

And so will you. 

On, little Drumikin ! 

Tum-pa, tum-too ! ” 

“Dear me! Dear me!” said the eagle. 
“ What a tender bit I’ve missed ! ” 


64 


LAMBIKIN 


Away trundled Lambikin laughing and 
singing to himself, 

“ Tum-pa, tum-too ! 

Tum-pa, tum-too ! ” 

Each animal he met asked, 

“ Drumikin ! Drumikin ! 

Have you seen Lambikin ?” 

And wee Lambikin, curled up in his wee 
drumikin, called out, 

“ Fallen into the fire, 

And so will you. 

On, little Drumikin ! 

Tum-pa, tum-too ! 

Tum-pa, tum-too ! ” 

“Dear me! Dear me!” said each animal. 
“ What a tender bit I’ve missed ! ” 

Away trundled Lambikin, laughing and 
singing to himself. 

At last he met the jackal, limping along 
and looking very sad. When he saw the wee 
drumikin he called out, 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

“ Drumikin ! Drumikin ! 

Have you seen Lambikin?” 

And wee Lambikin, curled up in his wee 
drumikin, called out, 

“ Fallen into the fire, 

And so will you. 

On, little Drumikin ! 

Tum-pa, tum-too ! 

Turn-pa, tum-too ! ” 

But the jackal knew his voice. 

“Oho! Lambikin!” he called out. “So you 
have turned yourself inside out, have you?” 


Then he tore open wee drumikin 
And gobbled up wee Lambikin ! 

East Indian Nursery Tale. 



66 


POOR OLD GOOD 


Once upon a time there was a very old 
man. He was very, very poor, but he was 
such a good old man that the people called 
him “ Old Good.” 

He carried a little wooden bowl in his 
hand. When he beat on the bowl it sounded 
like a little drum. 

And because he was very poor, 

He went begging from door to door. 

One day he came to a house and asked 
the people for something to eat, but they said, 

“ Go dong, go dong, go dong, Old Good, 
We wouldn’t help you if we could.” 

He came to another house and asked the 
people for something to eat, and they said, 

“ Go dong, go dong, go dong, Old Good, 
We wouldn’t help you if we could.” 


67 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


He came to another house and asked the 
people for something to eat, but they also said, 

“ Go Tong, go Tong, go Tong, Old Good, 
We wouldn’t help you if we could.” 

And then he came to the last little house 
in the village and asked the people there for 
something to eat. The little boy who met 
him at the door said, 

“ Come in, come in, come in, old man, 
We’ll help you in every way we can.” 

So he held out his rice-bowl and they 
poured in rice. But it was only half full. 

And they poured in more rice, but still it 
was not full. 

And they poured in more rice, but still it 
was not full. 

And it was not full until they had poured 
in about a bushel of rice. 

Then the old man said, 

“You have been very good to me, little 
boy. Now I will tell you what is going to 
68 






NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

happen. You know there is a stone lion at 
the door of the temple.” 

“Yes, I have seen the stone lion at the 
door of the temple,” said the little boy. 

“Hear what I say. Whenever the eyes of 
that stone lion turn red, there is going to be 
a flood.” 

Then he put his hand into his pocket 
and took out a little paper boat and said, 

“When the flood comes you must save all 
you have in this little boat. 

“ If any animals ask you to save them, 
You must save them. 

“ If any insects ask you to save them, 

You must save them. 

“ But if any men or women ask you to save 
them, 

You must not save them.” 

The next day when the little boy went to 
school he looked at the eyes of the lion. 

Then the next day when the little boy 
went to school he looked again at the eyes 
of the lion. 


70 


POOR OLD GOOD 

And every day when the little boy went 
to school he looked at the eyes of the lion. 

One day another little boy said to him, 

“Why do you look at the eyes of the 
lion ? ” 

And the little boy said, 

“ When the eyes of the lion are red, 
There is going to be a flood.” 

The other little boy only laughed at the 
answer, but that day after school he painted 
the eyes of the lion red. 

The next morning when the first little boy 
went to school he looked at the eyes of the 
lion, and, behold ! they were red. As soon 
as he saw this he ran home as fast as he 
could and said to his mother: 

“ The eyes of the lion are red ; 

There is going to be a flood.” 

Then they put their little paper boat out 
on the ground and it became a large wooden 
boat. 


71 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

As soon as they had put all their things 
into the boat the flood came. 

Then a little ant came from an ant’s nest 
and said, 

“ Oh, please, won’t you take us into the 
boat ? ” 

And they took all the little ants into the 
boat. 

Then many of the little mice swimming 
around in the water said, 

“ Oh, please, little boy, take us into your 
boat ? ” 

And they took all the little mice into the 
boat. 

Then a fierce, big, striped tiger came run- 
ning out of the woods and said to them, 

“ Oh, please, little boy, take me into the 
boat ? ” 

And they took the fierce, big, striped tiger 
into the boat. 

The little boy who had painted the eyes 
of the lion was in the flood. 

He swam to them and said, 

“ Oh, please, little boy, take me into your 
boat ? ” 


72 


POOR OLD GOOD 


But the little boy said, 

“No, no, little boy. Old Good said that 
we must not take any people into the boat.” 

“ Oh, please, please, please ! ” he begged. 

They took him into the boat. 

When the flood was over they took the 
naughty little boy to their house. He lived 
with them ever afterward. 

But still sometimes he was a naughty 
boy. 

He did a very naughty thing for which all 
the family was punished and put into prison. 

While they were there, one little mouse 
after another came to the prison and each 
said, 

“ Oh, good little boy, 

It was you saved me; 

I will cut your cords 
And set you free.” 

So the little mice gnawed to pieces all the 
cords that bound them. 

Then, one after another, came the little 
ants to the prison, and each said, 

73 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


“Oh, good little boy, 

It was you saved me; 

I will loosen the ground 
To set you free.” 

And the ants built many nests under the 
walls of the prison. 

Then the fierce, big, striped tiger came 
and said, 

“ Oh, good little hoy, 

It was you saved me; 

I will dig a big hole 
And set you free.” 

And he dug a big hole where the ants 
had loosened the ground, and the walls of the 
prison fell. 

The family came out, went back to their 
home, and all lived happily together ever after- 
ward. 

Chinese Nursery Tale. 


74 



PETER, BASIL, AND THE FOX 

Once upon a time there was an old man 
and he had a cat and a cock. 

The cat became tired of living Avith the 
old man and said to the cock, “ Let’s go into 
the forest; it’s nicer there.” 

And the cock said, “Very well.” 

So off they went. 


7A 


NURSERY TALES EROM MANY LANDS 

In the forest they found an old hut, and 
they went there to live. Then the cat went 
off to find food. While he was away a fox 
passed the hut and scented the cock. The 
fox sat down by the hut and began to sing, 

“ Little cock, little cock, 

With the golden comb 
And the silken beard, 

Look out of the window. 

I will give you some porridge 
In a painted spoon.” 

The cock listened and wondered who was 
singing so sweetly. So he opened the win- 
dow and looked out into the road and the fox 
caught him. 

Then the fox trotted off home with the 
cock in his teeth. The cock became so fright- 
ened that he started crying and calling out, 

“The fox is carrying me off, 

Beyond the thick forests, 

Beyond the blue seas, 

And beyond the high hills, 

To a far-away country 
76 


PETER, BASIL, AND THE FOX 

And to strange lands. 

Pussy cat, brother, 

Save me from him ! ” 

The cat heard the cries of the cock and 
started after the fox. And when the fox saw 
the cat coming after him he dropped the 
cock and ran away. So the cat and the cock 
ran back to their hut. 

The next day the cat went off again to 
find food., “Now, mind, Brother Peter,” he 
said, “ don’t trust the fox. Don’t open the 
window or he’ll carry you off again, and I 
shall be far away and shall not hear you.” 

As soon as the cat had gone, up came 
the fox. He sat down under the window and 
began singing, 

“ Little cock, little cock, 

With the golden comb 
And the silken beard, 

Look out of your window 
And I’ll give you some peas.” 

The cock thought he’d like some peas, but 
he tried hard not to look out of the window. 


77 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

“ That’s all very fine,” he thought, “ but 
you can’t deceive me, Mr. Fox.” 

And the fox kept on singing, 

“ Look out of your window 
And I’ll give you some peas — 

A whole basketful.” 

And the cock walked up and down inside 
the hut and kept saying to himself, 

“ I won’t look out ! 

I won’t look out ! 

I won’t look out ! ” 

And the fox began singing again, 

“ Just outside a farmhouse 
The hill slopes away, 

And there stands a little sledge 
That goes driving all alone.” 

And the cock thought, “ What sort of 
sledge, in all the world, can it be that goes 
all by itself. I must have a look with the 
corner of one eye.” 


78 



NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

But as soon as the cock opened the win- 
dow the fox snapped him up before he knew 
what had happened. And however much he 
cried out for his Brother Basil the cat did 
not hear him. He was too far away. And 
the fox carried off the cock beyond the fir- 
trees and ate him up. 

When the cat came home he found the 
door shut. So he began to run around the 
hut and call to the cock, saying, 

“ Open, Brother Peter, and let your Brother 
Basil come in.” 

Then he saw that the window was wide 
open and that there was no one inside. So 
he knew that the fox had carried off his 
Brother Peter, and he started off to look for 
him. And lo and behold ! all he found was 
some feathers. Then he sat down and wept 
bitter tears. After that he felt lonely living 
in the forest without the cock. So he went 
back to the old man in the village, and 
wasn’t the old man pleased to see him! 

Russian Nursery Tale. 


80 


LITTLE TWO EYES 


Once upon a time three little sisters lived 
together. The first was called Little One Eye, 
because she had only one eye. It was in the 
middle of her forehead. 

The second was called Little Two Eyes, 
because she had two eyes like other people. 

The third was called Little Three Eyes, be- 
cause she had three eyes. One of them was 
in the middle of her forehead. 

Little Two Eyes was not happy. Her sis- 
ters made fun of her. They said, “You are 
not like us. You are like other people. You 
shall wear old clothes and shall have only 
crumbs to eat. We do not like you.” 

Every morning Little Two Eyes drove the 
goat to the fields to graze. One morning she 
was very hungry, for she had had only a few 
crumbs for breakfast. She sat down under 
a tree and began to cry. After awhile she 
heard some one say, 


81 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


“Little Two Eyes, tell me why you cry?” 
She looked up, and there stood an old 
woman. 

“Because I have two eyes like other peo- 
ple my sisters do not like me. They make 
me wear old clothes and they give me only 
a few crumbs to eat. I'm very hungry,” said 
Little Two Eyes. 

The old woman said, “You shall never be 
hungry again. Whenever you wish something 
to eat, say to your goat, 

'Little goat, bleat, 

Little table, come/ 

and a little table, loaded with good food, will 
stand before you. When you have eaten all 
you wish, say this, 

‘ Little goat, bleat, 

Little table, away ! ’ 

and the table will go away.” 

Off went the old woman. 

“I'm hungry now,” thought Little Two 
Eyes. So she said, 


82 




NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


“Little goat, bleat, 

Little table, come,” 

and before her stood a little table loaded with 
good food. 

When she had eaten all she wished, Little 
Two Eyes said, 

“ Little goat, bleat, 

Little table, away!” 

Then away went the little table. 

“ What a nice way to keep house ! ” said 
Little Two Eyes, laughing to herself. “ I shall 
not have to eat crumbs to-night.” 

For three days she did not eat anything 
at home. 

At last Little One Eye said, “ Little Two 
Eyes does not eat our food. What is the 
matter? She must eat something in the field. 
I will go with her and see.” 

The next morning when Little Two Eyes 
was ready to go to the field Little One Eye 
said, “ I will go with you.” 

“ She will try to see how I get food to 
eat,” thought Little Two Eyes. 


84 


LITTLE TWO EYES 

So they drove the goat into the thick, long 
grass and Little Two Eyes said, “Come, let 
us sit here and I will sing to you.” 

Little One Eye sat down, for she was tired, 
and Little Two Eyes sang, 

“Are you awake, Little One Eye? 

Are you awake? 

Go to sleep, Little One Eye, 

Go to sleep. 

Little One Eye, 

Go to sleep, 

Go to sleep.” 

Soon Little One Eye fell fast asleep. 

“ Little goat, bleat, 

Little table, come,” 

said Little Two Eyes, and there before her 
once more stood the table loaded with good 
food. She ate all she wished and then she 
said, 

“Awake, Little One Eye! Awake! You 
did not watch the goat. Come, we will go 
home.” 


85 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

“ Did you see how Little Two Eyes got 
something to eat?” asked Little Three Eyes. 

“No. I fell asleep in the long grass,” said 
Little One Eye. 

“ I must go and watch her,” said Little 
Three Eyes, “for she does not eat our food.” 

The next morning when Little Two Eyes 
was ready to go to the field Little Three 
Eyes said, “I will go with you.” 

“She will try to see how I get food to 
eat,” thought Little Two Eyes. 

So they drove the goat into the thick, long 
grass ‘and Little Two Eyes said, “ Come, let 
us sit here and I will sing to you.” 

Little Three Eyes sat down, for she was 
very tired, and Little Two Eyes sang, 

“ Are you awake, Little Three Eyes ? 

Are you awake? 

Go to sleep, Little Two Eyes, 

Go to sleep. 

Little Three Eyes, 

Go to sleep, 

Little Two Eyes, 

Go to sleep, 

Go to sleep.” 

86 


Two of her eyes went to sleep, but the 
eye in the middle of her forehead did not go 
to sleep. Little Two Eyes did not know this, 
so she sang, 

“ Little goat, bleat, 

Little table, come.” 

The table, loaded with food, came and she 
ate a good dinner. Then she said, 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

" Little goat, bleat, 

Little table, away!” 

Away went the little table. But Little 
Three Eyes saw with the eye in the middle 
of her forehead how Little Two Eyes got 
plenty to eat. 

“ Awake, Little Three Eyes! Awake! You 
did not watch the goat. Come, we will go 
home,” said Little Two Eyes. 

They went home, and Little Three Eyes said 
to her mother and sister, “ I know how she gets 
plenty to eat. She put two of my eyes to 
sleep with a song. But the eye in the mid- 
dle of my forehead saw everything. She says, 

'Little goat, bleat, 

Little table, come/ 

and before her stands a table loaded with 
good food. When she has eaten all she 
wishes she says, 

'Little goat, bleat, 

Little table, away ! ’ 

Away goes the little table.” 


88 


LITTLE TWO EYES 


“We will kill the goat,” said her sister. 

The next day Little Two Eyes went alone 
to the field. She sat down under a tree and 
cried. 

After awhile she heard some one say, 

“ Little Two Eyes, why do you cry ? ” 

She looked up, and there stood the old 
woman. 

“ Because my goat is killed,” said Little 
Two Eyes. 

“ Beg your sisters to give you the heart 
of the goat. Plant it by the door of your 
house.” 

Off went the old woman. 

Little Two Eyes went home and said to 
her sisters, “Please give me the heart of the 
goat ? ” 

They laughed and said, 

“Here it is. You may have it.” 

Little Two Eyes planted the heart by the 
door of the house. In the morning a beau- 
tiful tree stood before the door. It was cov- 
ered with silver leaves and bore golden apples. 
Little Two Eyes knew how it happened to 
grow there but she did not tell her sisters. 


89 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

“111 climb the tree and gather some of 
the fruit,” said Little One Eye. But when 
she tried to reach an apple the branch sprang 
out of her hand. 

“Let me try. I have three eyes and can 
see very well,” said Little Three Eyes. But 
when she tried to reach a golden apple, away 
flew the branch on which it grew. 

“Let me see what I can do,” said Little 
Two Eyes. 

“You!” said her sisters. “You with your 
two eyes ! What can you do ! ” 

But Little Two Eyes climbed the tree and 
the golden apples fell into her hands. She 
brought down as many as she could carry. 

How angry her sisters were ! 

One morning a beautiful Prince came rid- 
ing by the house. 

“Hide, Little Two Eyes!” called out her 
sisters. “ Hide, quickly ! Creep under this 
empty cask, for a Prince is coming. Y r ou have 
two eyes, like other people, and he must not 
see you.” 

Quickly Little Two Eyes crept under the 
empty cask. 


90 



“What a wonderful tree!” said the Prince 
when he came near. “Is it yours ? ” 

“ It is, indeed,” said the sisters. 

“May I have a branch with some golden 
apples on it?” asked the Prince. 

“ We will give you a branch,” said the 
sisters. 

First Little One Eye climbed up and tried 
to break off a branch. Away it flew from 
her hand. 

Then Little Three Eyes climbed up and 
tried to break off a branch. Away it flew 
from her hand. 

“ How strange it is that you cannot break 


91 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


off a branch of your own tree!” said the 
Prince. “Why, here is a golden apple.” 

He stooped down and picked it up. As 
he did so another golden apple rolled to his 
feet; then another. They came from under 
the cask where Little Two Eyes was hidden. 

“ Who is under the cask ? ” asked the 
Prince. 

“ Our sister,” said Little Three Eyes. “ She 
must not be seen because she has two eyes 
like other people.” 

But the Prince called out, “Come, Little 
Two Eyes, come ! ” 

And when Little Two Eyes crept out from 
the cask the Prince said, “ Can you pick me 
a branch with golden apples on it ? ” 

“I will try to get a beautiful branch for 
you,” said Little Two Eyes. 

She sprang up the tree and picked a 
branch loaded with beautiful golden apples. 

“Thank you,” said the Prince when she 
offered him the gift. “Now, tell me, Little 
Two Eyes, what shall I do for you?” 

“ I am very unhappy here. May I go 
away with you?” asked Little Two Eyes. 

92 


LITTLE TWO EYES 


“You shall go with me,” said the Prince. 
“I will take you to my father’s castle.” 

He lifted her on his fine horse and away 
they rode. 

Little Two Eyes was very happy in the 
castle. 

One day she looked out of her window 
and there was the wonderful tree filled with 
golden apples. 

“ My tree has come to grow in the castle 
park,” said Little Two Eyes to the Prince. 

“It is one of our wedding gifts, Little Two 
Eyes,” was the answer. 

German Nursery Tale. 



93 


BUCHETTINO 


Once upon a time when little Buchettino 
was sweeping the stairs of his house he heard 
a noise. He looked down and found a bright 
penny. Then he said to himself, 

“What shall I buy with this penny? 

“Shall I buy some dates? No, for then I 
should have to throw away the stones. 

“Shall I buy some apples? No, for then 
I should have to throw away the core. 

“ Shall I buy some nuts ? No, for then I 
should have to throw away the shells. 

“ What shall I buy with this penny ? 

“ I will buy a penny’s worth of figs.” 

Away he ran to the nearest shop, bought 
a penny’s worth of figs, and climbed up a big 
tree. He sat down upon a branch and began 
to eat his figs. 

Soon a Giant passed by. When he saw 
Buchettino he called out, 

“ Buchettino ! Buchettino ! 

Dear Buchettino ! 


94 


BUCHETTINO 


Give me a fig with your own little hand ; 
If not I will climb up and eat you.” 

Then little Buchettino threw him one fig, 
but it fell into the dirt. 

“ Buchettino ! Buchettino ! 

Dear Buchettino ! 

Give me a fig with your own little hand ; 
If not I will climb up and eat you,” 

called out the Giant again. 

Then Buchettino threw him another fig, but 
it fell into the dirt. 

“ Buchettino ! Buchettino ! 

Dear Buchettino ! 

Give me a fig with your own little hand ; 
If not I will climb up and eat you,” 

called out the Giant again in an angry tone. 

Little Buchettino did not know that the 
Giant was trying to catch him. So he leaned 
down and gave the Giant a fig with his own 
little hand. 

“ Now I have you,” snapped the Giant. 


95 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

He quickly caught Buchettino by the arm, 
pushed him into his big bag, threw the bag 
over his shoulder, and started for his home, 
calling out, 

“ Wife ! Wife ! 

Put the kettle on the fire, 

For I have caught Buchettino.” 

The Giant was very near his house when 
he happened to think of something he had 
to do before going home. So he put the bag 
on the ground and walked off as quickly as 
he could. Buchettino, you may be sure, was 
glad to hear his footsteps sound farther and 
farther away. 

“Now is my time,” he said to himself. 
With a little knife which he always carried 
in his pocket he cut a hole in the bag big 
enough for him to creep through. Then he 
slipped out quietly, filled the bag with stones, 
and ran toward his home as fast as he could 
go. 

When the Giant came back he picked up 
his bag, threw it over his shoulder, and started 
off, calling out again, 


96 





“Wife! Wife! 

Put the kettle on the Are, 

For I have caught Buchettino.” 


97 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

“ Yes, yes,” answered his wife as he came 
near. “ I have put the kettle on the fire.” 

“ Then we will cook Buchettino. Come, 
come; help me. Take hold of one end of this 
bag, 

For I have caught Buchettino ; 

I have caught little Buchettino.” 

The Giant and his wife took hold of the 
bag and carried it to the hearth. They emp- 
tied it into the kettle. Splash! The bag was 
full of stones. 

How angry that Giant was ! He roared 
out, “ Buchettino put stones into my bag. He 
ran away, but I’ll catch him yet! I'll catch 
Buchettino ! ” 

The next day he went back to the place 
where he had caught little Buchettino. But 
no Buchettino was there. He walked up and 
down the roads. He looked into all the hid- 
ing-places, saying to himself over and over, 
“ I’ll catch Buchettino yet ! ” 

At last he raised his eyes and looked all 
over the tops of the houses. There he saw 
Buchettino standing upon a roof laughing and 

98 


BUCHETTINO 


laughing and laughing. For Buchettino had 
seen the Giant, too. 

“ Oh, Buchettino, there you are ! ” called 
out the Giant, this time in a very sweet voice. 
“Tell me how you climbed up on that roof?” 

“ Oh,” said Buchettino, “ do you really wish 
to know?” 

“I do, indeed,” answered the Giant. 

“ Then listen. I put dishes upon dishes, 
glasses upon glasses, pans upon pans, kettles 
upon kettles until they were piled up as high 
as this roof. Then I climbed and climbed 
and climbed upon them, and here I am!” 

“ Aha ! ” laughed the Giant. “ Wait a bit.” 
And with that he quickly piled dishes upon 
dishes, glasses upon glasses, pans upon pans, 
and kettles upon kettles, until they were piled 
as high as the roof. 

Then he began to climb and climb and 
climb. But when he had climbed almost to 
the top — crash— crack — bang— br-r-r-r-r. Down 
came dishes upon dishes, glasses upon glasses, 
pans upon pans, and kettles upon kettles, all 
on top of that wicked Giant! 

Italian Nursery Tale. 


99 


THE STRAW OX 


There was once an old woman and an old 
man. The old man worked in the field, while 
the old woman sat at home and spun flax. 
They were very, very poor. One day the old 
woman said, “ Daddy, make me a straw ox 
and cover it with tar.” 

"A straw ox? What in the world is the 
good of an ox of that sort?” 

“ Never mind, Daddy,” she said. “ Make 
me a straw ox and cover it with tar.” 

“ Well, well, well,” said the old man. 

So the old man made an ox of straw and 
covered it with tar. 

Early the next morning the old woman 
drove the straw ox to the meadow. She took 
her distaff with her and she sat down behind 
a little hill to do her spinning. While the 
straw ox was grazing she spun her flax and 
sang, 


100 


THE STRAW OX 


“Graze away, little ox, 

While I spin my flax; 

Graze away, little ox, 

While I spin my flax.” 

As she spun and sang, her head drooped 
down and she went fast asleep. She did not 
see a big bear come from the dark wood and 
say to the ox, 

“ Who are you ? ” 

“ I am a straw ox 
And I’m covered with tar.” 

“ Oh, covered with tar, are you ? Then 
give me a little of your tar. I wish to patch 
up my ragged fur again.” 

“ Take some,” said the ox. 

The bear fell upon him and began to tear 
away the tar. He buried his teeth in the 
ox as far as he could. To his surprise he 
soon found he could not let go. He was 
stuck fast. He tugged and tugged, but it was 
of no use. Then the straw ox started off 
home dragging the bear with him. 

When the old woman awoke there was no 


101 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

ox to be seen. “ My straw ox may have gone 
home/' she said. “ I will go, too.” 

She took up her distaff, threw it over her 
shoulder, and hastened home. There she 
found the straw ox with the bear still stuck 
fast to the tar. 

“ Daddy, Daddy,” she cried, “ look, look. 
The straw ox has brought us a bear. Come.” 

The old man jumped up, pulled the bear 
out of the tar, and cast him into the cellar. 

The next morning the old woman again 
drove the straw ox to the meadow. She took 
her distaff with her and she sat down behind 
a little hill to do her spinning. While the 
straw ox was grazing she spun her flax and 
sang, 

“ Graze away, little ox, 

While I spin my flax; 

Graze away, little ox, 

While I spin my flax.” 

As she spun and sang, her head drooped 
down and she was soon fast asleep. While 
she was sleeping a gray wolf came rushing 


102 





NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

out of the wood. He saw the straw ox graz- 
ing in the meadow. 

“ Who are you ? ” he asked. 

“I am a straw ox 
And I’m covered with tar.” 

“ Oh, covered with tar, are you ? Give me 
some of your tar to tar my sides. Then the 
dogs cannot tear me.” 

“ Take some,” said the ox. 

The gray wolf fell upon the straw ox and 
tried to tear away some of the tar. He tugged 
and tugged, but he could get none. Then he 
tried to let go, but, no matter how hard he 
pulled, the tar held him fast. The straw ox 
started off home dragging the gray wolf with 
him. 

When the old woman woke up there was 
no straw ox to he seen. “My ox has gone 
home,” she said. “ I will go, too.” She took 
up her distaff, threw it over her shoulder, 
and hastened home, and there stood the straw 
ox with a gray wolf stuck fast to the tar. 

“ Daddy, Daddy ! ” she called out. “ Come ! 


104 


THE STRAW OX 

The straw ox has brought us a gray wolf. 
Come ! ” 

The old man came, pulled the gray wolf 
out of the tar, and cast him into the cellar 
with the hear. 

On the third day the old woman again 
drove the straw ox to the meadow. And 
again she sat down and began to spin and 
sing and was soon fast asleep. 

A fox came running up. 

“ Who are you ? ” he asked when he saw 
the straw ox. 

“ I am a straw ox 
And Pm covered with tar.” 

“ Oh, covered with tar, are you ? Then 
give me some of your tar. I wish to cover 
my sides so that the dogs cannot tear my 
hide,” begged the fox. 

“ Take some,” said the straw ox. 

The fox fastened his teeth in the tar. 
He tugged and tugged, but he could not pull 
them out again. Away started the straw ox 
dragging the fox with him. 


105 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


The old woman woke up, hurried home, 
and found the straw ox there with a fox stuck 
fast in the tar. She called again to the old 
man. “ Come, Daddy ! ” 

The old man jumped up, pulled the fox 
out of the tar, and cast him into the cellar 
with the bear and the gray wolf. And the 
next day they caught a little hare in the same 
way. 


“We have some fine animals now, Daddy,” 
said the old woman. 

“ Yes, yes, my good woman, and all were 
caught by the straw ox which I made,” said 
the old man, beginning to sharpen his knife. 

The bear looked up and saw what the old 
man was doing. 

“ Tell me, Daddy,” he said, “ why are you 
sharpening your knife?” 

“Your hide will make a fine leather jacket 
for myself and a coat for my old woman.” 

“Let me go, Daddy, dear,” begged the 
bear, “ and I’ll bring you a lot of honey.” 

“Very well, see that you do it.” And the 
old man let the bear go. 

106 


THE STRAW OX 


Then he sat down on the bench again and 
began to sharpen his knife. And the gray 
wolf asked: 

“ Daddy, why are you sharpening your 
knife ? ” 

“Your hide will make me a warm cap for 
the winter.” 

“Let me go, Daddy, dear. I’ll bring you 
a whole herd of little sheep.” 

“Yery well, see that you do it.” And he 
let the gray wolf go. 

Again he sat down on the bench and be- 
gan to sharpen his knife. 

The fox looked up. “Why are you sharp- 
ening your knife, Daddy, dear?” 

“ Little foxes’ fur makes nice collars and 
trimmings.” 

“ Let me go, Daddy, dear, and I will bring 
you some nice hens and geese.” 

“Yery well, see that you do it.” And he 
let the fox go. 

Then the little hare begged to know why 
Daddy was sharpening his knife. 

“ Little hares’ soft fur makes nice gloves 
and mittens for winter.” 


107 


“ Don’t take my fur, Daddy, dear. Let me 
go and I’ll bring you cabbage and cauliflower 
— all you wish.” 

“Very well, see that you do it.” Then he 
let the little hare go. 

Early the next morning there was a noise 
on the door of the cottage. It sounded like 
“ Dr-r-r-r-r.” 

“ Daddy,” cried the old woman, “ some one 
is scratching at the door. Get up and see 
who it is.” 


THE STRAW OX 




The old man got up and opened the door. 
There stood the bear carrying a whole hive 
of honey. He took the honey from the bear 
and went back to bed. 

No sooner was he asleep than again came 
the sound, “ Dr-r-r-r-r,” at the cottage door. 
“ Daddy, dear,” cried the old woman, “ there's 
that noise again. Get up.” 

The old man again got out of bed, went 
to the window, and looked out. There he 
saw the gray wolf driving a whole flock of 
sheep into the yard. Close on his heels came 
the fox driving some fine geese and hens. 
Last of all came the little hare bringing cab- 
bage and cauliflower. 

Then the old man and the old woman 
were glad. They sold honey and sheep and 
geese and hens, and became so rich that they 
never needed anything more for the rest of 
their lives. 

And what became of the straw ox? 

Oh, he stood in the sun until he fell to 
pieces ! 

Russian Nursery Tale. 


109 


SIMON AND THE BLACK GUM TREE 

A long time ago there was a little boy 
named Simon. His mammy often called him 
Great Simon. They lived together in a little 
cabin just outside the big house garden. 

Simon’s mammy worked in the big house. 
Every day when she left the cabin she would 
say to him, “Now, Simon, Great Simon, be a 
good boy. Don’t go out of the yard. Mind 
what I say, and when I come back I’ll bring 
you something good.” 

“Yes’m,” Simon would answer. And then 
he would go on making frog houses by pack- 
ing wet sand over his bare feet. 

One day Simon’s mammy let him go fish- 
ing with some of the big boys. They showed 
him how to bait his hook and what to do 
with his sinker and cork. After a while he 
caught a flat golden perch, and he ran home 
as fast as ho could to show it to his mammy. 

“Look, mammy; see what I’ve caught. 
Cook him now, mammy. Cook him now ! ” 


no 


SIMON AND THE BLACK GUM TREE 


V 


Every day after Simon caught that fish he 
begged his mammy to let him go fishing. 

“ Once in a while you may go with the 
big boys, Simon, Great Simon. But you must 
never, never go alone.” 

More than once Simon wished to slip off 
by himself but he was afraid. He knew his 
mammy often came back to the cabin between 
meals. 

One day when Simon knew his mammy 
would be very, very busy he made up his 
mind to run away. 

“ I can fish for two or three hours this 
afternoon and get back before dark.” 

Simon’s mammy started off for the big 
house. “ Be a good boy, Simon, and stay at 
home,” she said. 

“Y-e-s, m-am,” he answered and his eyes 
grew big. He was stuffing his fishing-line 
into his pocket the very moment his mammy 
called to him. 

Then away she went to the big house, 
swinging her arms and singing. 

Simon waited a little while. Then he went 
into the cabin, ate some bread and syrup, 


m 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

and went out again to dig his bait. With 
his cup full of worms, his hook and line and 
pole all ready, he set out for the creek. 

The fishing hole was a long way from the 
cabin. But Simon cut across the fields. He 
kept close to the fences and hedges, for he 
was afraid of being seen. When he came to 
the woods he sat down by a big oak and was 
so tired that he soon fell fast asleep. There 
is no telling how long he would have slept 
had it not been for a hawk. The big bird 
flew down and struck Simon with its wing. 

Up jumped the little boy. He looked 
around and started to run back home. Then 
he remembered where he was and what he 
was going to do. 

Simon started on his way again through 
the woods. As he walked along the leaves 
seemed to get up and follow him. Every 
time he lifted his foot he heard a tiny rus- 
tling sound. He felt the breeze which the 
leaves made as they came after him. How 
he trembled! But on he ran. At last he 
reached the fishing hole in the creek. There 
was the very place where he had caught the 


112 




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NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


golden perch. He forgot all about the hawk, 
the leaves, and his mammy at home. He 
wanted to jump and dance for joy. 

All at once a big black cloud came in the 
sky. It made everything look dark. He heard 
a loud ripple on the water, and — splash ! The 
head of a big fish popped out of the pool 
and said : 

“ Bait your hook, Simon, 

Bait your hook, Simon, 

Bait your hook, Simon. 

Mammy calls, Great Simon ! ” 

The little boy trembled all over. But he 
did just what the fish told him to do. He 
put a worm on the hook. Then the fish said, 

“Cast it in, Simon, 

Cast it in, Simon, 

Cast it in, Simon. 

Mammy calls, Great Simon !” 

And Simon cast his line into the pool. 
The cork began to bob up and down. He 
heard another loud ripple on the water. Then 
the fish cried out: 


114 


SIMON AND THE BLACK GUM TREE 

“ Pull me out, Simon, 

Pull me out, Simon, 

Pull me out, Simon. 

Mammy calls, Great Simon !” 

The little boy gave a hard pull; out came 
the fish. When the fish hit the ground it 
cried : 

“ There’s your fire, Simon, 

There’s your fire, Simon, 

There’s your fire, Simon. 

Mammy calls, Great Simon!” 

Not far from the tree where Simon stood 
he saw a fire that blazed and crackled. In 
an old stump near the tree was a big knife. 
The fish said : 

“ Cut me up, Simon, 

Cut me up, Simon, 

Cut me up, Simon. 

Mammy calls, Great Simon ! ” 

Simon laid the fish on the stump, pulled 
out the knife, and cut the fish up. But still 
the fish cried out: 


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NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

“ Put me in the pan, Simon, 

Put me in the pan, Simon, 

Put me in the pan, Simon. 

Mammy calls, Great Simon ! ” 

There on the stump was a new pan. Si- 
mon put the fish into the pan. The grease 
popped out of the pan and all over Simon. 
He jumped about, then covered his face and 
hands. But he couldn’t run away. From the 
pan the fish called out : 

“Now I am done, Simon, 

Now I am done, Simon, 

Take me up, Simon. 

Mammy calls, Great Simon ! ” 

As Simon lifted off the pan, the fish called 
out, 

“ Eat me up, Simon, 

Eat me up, Simon, 

Eat me up, Simon. 

Mammy calls, Great Simon ! ” 

So Simon sat down at the root of a tree 
and ate the fish— every bit ! Suddenly he 


116 


SIMON AND THE BLACK GUM TREE 

felt something move behind him. He slowly 
turned his head. He saw that the tree he 
was leaning against was opening. And the 
fish inside him cried out, 

“Walk right in, Simon, 

Walk right in, Simon, 

Walk right in, Simon. 

Mammy calls, Great Simon ! ” 

Simon ivalked in and the big tree closed! 

That night when Simon’s mammy came 
back to the cabin she could not find her little 
boy anywhere. 

“ Simon,” she called, “ Great Simon, where 
are you?” But there was no answer. 

She ran back to the big house crying for 
her little boy. The white folks sent big dogs 
and two men to hunt for Simon. They took 
torches, axes, and rope. The dogs soon found 
the tree that had swallowed up the little boy. 
Here they began to bark and howl and whine. 
How frightened the men were ! 

“ Simon is locked up in a black gum tree,” 
said one. 


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NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

“Come, we’ll split the tree with our axes 
and get him out.” 

“That will not be hard to do,” said the 
other. “A black gum tree is easy to split.” 

They lifted their axes and struck hard at 
the tree. But each time they hit the tree 
their axes bounced back like a rubber ball . 

“ We can’t even make a mark,” they cried 
out. “ The black gum tree is bewitched.” 
They dropped their axes and ran as fast as 
they could back to their home. And from 
that time to this no one has ever been able 
to split a black gum tree. 

Negro Nursery Tale. 



118 


MONOTARO 


Once upon a time an old, old man and an 
old, old woman lived in a forest. Their stone 
house was built where the trees were thickest 
and tallest, for they feared a terrible Dragon 
which roamed the earth. 

The old man and his wife were afraid to 
leave their home. Sometimes they had to go 
out to gather fagots for the fire. And some- 
times they had to go to the sea to catch fish 
for food. But they went very softly and hand 
in hand. They looked this way and that for 
the Dragon. 

These old people had no children and that 
made them very sad. Every day they prayed 
for a big, strong son to take care of them. 

One day they went to the sea for fish. 
They cast in their net and something heavy 
rolled into it. The old man and the old 
woman had to tug and pull and pull and tug 
to hang on. It was so heavy that they thought 
a sea-horse must have jumped into the net — 
or maybe a whale. But at last they dragged 


119 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 

their load to land and spread open the net. 
What was their surprise to find in the middle 
of the net, not a whale, and not a sea-horse — 
but a big peach seed! And when the old man 
went tap, tap, tap on it with his stick, out 
stepped a little boy. He was the most beau- 
tiful black-eyed, rosy-cheeked boy that anybody 
ever saw. 

He bowed low to the old man and the old 
woman and said, “ I am the son you have 
prayed for. I have come to take care of you.” 

The old man and the old woman could 
scarcely believe what their eyes told them. 
They felt more like laughing than anything 
else. But when they looked again the little 
boy had grown a foot. And all of a sudden 
they found themselves growing stronger and 
stronger. So they took the little boy between 
them and ran home as fast as they could. 
Then they barred the door, for the terrible 
Dragon loved to eat little boys. 

The old man and his wife named the boy 
Monotaro, which means Peach-Seed Boy. They 
were so happy to have a son, they could 
scarcely eat or sleep. 


120 


MONOTARO 


Monotaro was very kind and very gentle 
to his father and mother. He made friends 
with all the animals in the forest and they 
obeyed him as he obeyed his parents. And 
each day he grew stronger and stronger until, 
in a little while, he was able to pull up the 
thickest and tallest trees in the forest. 

When his mother and father saw this they 
were very proud. They thought it best to tell 
him about the terrible Dragon and how afraid 
every one was of it. They believed Monotaro 
was big enough and strong enough to drive 
the Dragon away. 

So they whispered to him about the terri- 
ble beast. Even the flies on the wall could 
not hear what they said to him. Then Mono- 
taro stood up and asked his mother for some 
food. 

“ I am going to find the terrible Dragon,” 
he said. The old woman and the old man 
thought this a fine thing for their big son to 
do. So they gave him some fish and some 
rice and sent him off with their blessing. But 
they begged him to hurry back, for they would 
be lonely without him. Peach Boy pulled up 


121 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


a big tree for a staff. Then he started on his 
way. 

The first thing he met was a big yellow 
dog. He lived on the side of a hill. As soon 
as he saw Monotaro he called out: 

“ Peach Boy, Peach Boy ! Where are you 
going?” 

“ I am going to find the terrible Dragon,” 
said Monotaro. 

“ Bow wow ! Bow wow ! ” barked the big 
yellow dog. “Aren’t you afraid ? For 

His back is green, 

His eyes are blue, 

His tail is yellow, 

And he’ll eat you." 

But Monotaro stretched out his strong 
arms and said, 

“I love my mother; 

I honor my father; 

And fear is a silly old tale.” 

“That’s true,” said the dog. “I shall go 
along with you. I can help with my bark.” 


122 




NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


So Monotaro and the big yellow dog went 
along and went along. Soon they met a big 
black crow: 

“ Peach Boy, Peach Boy ! Where are you 
going ? ” cried the crow from a high tree. 

“I am going to find the terrible Dragon/’ 
said Monotaro. 

“ Caw ! Caw ! Caw ! ” the crow sang. “Aren’t 
you afraid ? For 

His back is green, 

His eyes are blue, 

His tail is yellow, 

And he’ll eat you” 

But Monotaro stretched out his strong 
legs and said, 

“ I love my mother ; 

I honor my father; 

And fear is a silly old tale.” 

“That’s true,” said the crow. “I shall go 
along with you. I can help with my caw.” 

So Monotaro and the dog and the crow 
travelled on to find the terrible Dragon. They 

124 


MONOTARO 


had to go through a very hilly country. Al- 
most before they knew it they came to a 
place where there were two high mountains. 
The two mountains looked at each other 
across a roaring river. Monotaro was sure 
the terrible Dragon must live near that place, 
for the river roared and roared. But he did 
not know how he could get across from one 
mountain to the other. There was no bridge 
to walk over. There was no rope to swing 
over and no pole to reach over. Even Mono- 
taro’s legs were not long enough to step over. 

Monotaro thought and thought. Then he 
asked the crow and the dog about it. 

“Wait,” said the crow. “Ill fly hither 
and yon and call some friends with my caw, 
caw, caw.” 

“And I’ll bark,” said the big yellow dog. 
“ That will tell your friends where to find us.” 

The crow spread out his black wings and 
flew to the north. The dog barked and 
barked. In a moment a band of ring-tailed 
monkeys came leaping from rocks and trees. 

“ Peach Boy, Peach Boy ! Where are you 
going ? ” the king monkey chattered. 


125 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


“I am going to find the terrible Dragon.” 

“ Jabber, jabber, jabber — squee — ” said the 
ring-tailed monkeys. “ Aren’t you afraid? For 

His back is horny, 

His claws are thorny, 

His tongue is sticky, 

And he’ll soon eat you.” 

But Monotaro said, 

“I love my mother; 

I honor my father; 

And fear is a silly old tale.” 

“Hurrah for Peach Boy. Let us help him 
across the rushing river,” called out the mon- 
keys together. “ Come.” 

Quicker than a flea can hop, the first 
monkey caught hold of the tail of the second. 
Then the second monkey grabbed the tail of 
the third monkey. Then the third monkey 
grabbed the tail of the fourth monkey, and so 
on. Soon there was a string of monkeys a 
hundred feet long swinging across the roar- 
ing river. They made a fine bridge. So Mono- 


126 


MONOTARO 


taro and the dog and the crow walked across 
the monkey bridge and were soon on the 
other side of the river. Then all the mon- 
keys went along to help him find the terrible 
Dragon. 

So Monotaro and the big yellow dog and 
the crow and the monkeys went on and on 
until they came to the highest mountain. It 
hung right over the deep blue sea. The high 
mountain had a hole in the side and in the 
hole lay something long and green and yel- 
low with thorny claws and horny back. 

Monotaro knew it was the terrible Dragon. 
So he went as close as he could and called 
out in his biggest voice, “Come out, Dragon, 
for 

If your back is green, 

And your eyes are blue, 

And your tail is yellow, 

Fni not afraid of you ! ” 

Then the big yellow dog began to bark ; 
the monkeys began to chatter and the big 
black crow flew hither and yon cawing and 
cawing and cawing. 


127 



At this the terrible Dragon opened his 
terrible blue eyes and lashed his terrible yel- 
low tail this way and that. He snorted fire 
and rushed forward to swallow them all at 
once. But Monotaro rushed forward, too. 
He thrust his tree staff down the terrible 
Dragon’s throat. Then he pulled and tugged 
him toward the sea. The terrible Dragon 
pulled and tugged the other way. 

And the big yellow dog pulled Monotaro ; 

And all the monkeys together pulled the 
big yellow dog ; 


128 


MONOTARO 


And the crow screamed, “ Caw ! Caw ! Caw ! ” 
Which meant, “ Pull ! Pull ! Pull ! ” 

The terrible Dragon had set his teeth so hard 
in the tree staff that he couldn’t let go. And 
Monotaro and his friends wouldn’t let go ; and 
they pulled the Dragon to the edge of the 
mountain. With a one, two, three they let 
go of the tree staff! And splash went the 
terrible Dragon into the sea! 

Monotaro took the big yellow dog and all 
the monkeys and the crow home with him. 
The old, old man and the old, old woman 
were very happy to see Monotaro again. They 
gave a great feast to which all the forest 
people came. And everybody lived happily 
after that because brave Monotaro had sent 
the terrible Dragon to the bottom of the sea. 

Japanese Tale. 


129 




SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS 


Dramatic interpretation is a delightful and profit- 
able means of socializing the reading lesson. A group 
of children present through pantomime or dialogue 
and action a story adapted in content and vocabulary 
to the capacity of their experience. 

Some of the tales in this book lend themselves to 
one or more of the various types of dramatic inter- 
pretation which teachers find very helpful in develop- 
ing intelligent and expressive reading. A few sugges- 
tions are offered describing the particular form of 
exercise for which some of the stories are best adapted. 
If the children are allowed to give free scope to their 
quick fancy and love of invention the lesson in dra- 
matic reading will be marked by correct phrasing and 
appreciative expression. 

The Pantomime 

All dramatic work should begin with the simplest 
expression of thought and emotion through action, 
and should lead carefully and systematically, step by 
step, to action that is complex and varied. The sim- 
plest dramatic interpretation for little children is the 
; pantomime . The first steps in this exercise may be 
131 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


the acting out of a single sentence read or told by the 
child. In a short time a more complex interpretation 
may be tried, such as a bit of impersonation which de- 
mands expressive action. For example, the child may 
be asked to present, in pantomime, a boy trundling a 
hoop or flying a kite, a little girl dressing her doll, an 
old woman lighting her candle and going to bed, etc. 
This kind of practice is a valuable preparation for 
more complex dramatic exercises which combine speech 
with action, because the work in simple pantomime 
tends to break down and eliminate the child’s self- 
consciousness which is too often present in the early 
stages of dramatic work. 

(1) The Teeny Tiny Woman (page 14). 

For pantomime work nothing excels this old Eng- 
lish nursery tale. Use a candle or a make-believe one 
and let a child act out the lighting of it. A chair may 
represent the bed, the teacher’s desk the cupboard. 
One child may read the story while another carries 
out the actions of the Teeny Tiny Woman. The reader 
calls out “BOOH!” at the moment when the old 
woman looks into the cupboard. To vary the play a 
child hidden under the teacher’s desk may call out 
“BOOH!” at the proper time. This makes an excel- 
lent exercise to teach clear and intelligent reading, 
since the child acting the part must be directed by the 
skill of the reader. 

(2) Frolic of the Wild Things (page 47). 


132 


SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS 


This tale is told by the O jib way Indian mother to 
her children, who carry it out either in finger play or 
pantomime. 

Pee-ahm-e-squeet, of the O jib way tribe, gives the 
following directions in regard to the way the Indian 
children play their part in the tale: 

“When the mice dance the fingers are softly patted 
on the lap or on any surface. The hands are made to 
leap from wrist to finger-tip for the rabbit as he hops; 
two fingers placed together make the track, two fingers 
wide apart are his ears standing up. Hands closed and 
moved along with wrist motion indicate the creeping 
wolf. Imitate sniffing. Drag the thumb along for the 
wolf dragging his tail and erect the hand in the thumb 
for the wolf sitting in the snow. With the thumb and 
first finger make rings around the eyes for the owl. 
Then repeat the signs for the mice, rabbit, and wolf. 
Clap the hands together for the children catching the 
owl in the net. Place the hands on opposite shoulders 
to indicate the children wrapped in a buffalo robe or 
hide. Place hands (open palms) on the cheek, turn 
the face sidewise, and close eyes to show the children 
asleep.” 

The Simple Dialogue 

The Pear Tree (page 9). 

There is little action in this form of exercise. It is 
simply a list of questions and answers with repetition. 

133 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


Nevertheless, the reading lesson is vitalized if the ex- 
ercise is a mere portrayal of mood — the happy mother 
and questioning child. Pupils like to read the les- 
son sitting side by side in the attitude of mother 
and child. 

The Play 

Little White Rabbit (page 3). 

This story with its simple plot based upon repe- 
tition is easily played in any classroom. The cloak- 
room may be Little White Rabbit's home, out of which 
she comes to get her cabbage. The garden may be 
any space in the room designated for that purpose. 
While Little White Rabbit is away Huge Billy Goat 
goes into her house. Little White Rabbit returns and 
finds her door locked and some one on the inside. 
Frightened by the gruff voice, she starts on a journey 
in search of help. In the different corners of the class- 
room she meets and questions Black Dog, Big Ox, 
and Red Cock. Busy Little Ant returns with her, 
enters her home, drives out Huge Billy Goat, and lives 
with Little White Rabbit ever afterward. 

Other cumulative tales with plots which lend them- 
selves easily to dramatization are: Munachar and Mana- 
char (page 27), The Wee Bannock (page 16), Travels of 
a Fox (page 40). The unities of time and place sim- 
plify matters in these tales and make them excellent 
material for dramatic interpretation. 


134 


SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS 


In all of the stories named one character leads and, 
in his round of repetition, carries the story through to 
its conclusion. The classroom, as before, serves read- 
ily for the field of action for all. 

Before attempting to play any story be sure that 
the child is perfectly familiar with the steps in the ac- 
tion of the plot. Real interpretation comes only when 
he has lost all self-questioning as to what comes next 
in the story. He must be perfectly at home with the 
successive incidents. As soon as he has mastered the 
plot and visualized the action he is ready to play, and 
the teacher must not interfere with his original inven- 
tion in presenting the story. 

The reading lessons in this book may be correlated 
with exercises in oral English. 

I. Reproduction and Invention — 

(a) Oral reproduction of the whole story is a 

valuable exercise for gaining fluency of 
expression. 

( b ) The teacher may tell the first incidents of 

a story and let the children complete 
the narrative. 

(c) Let the pupils invent other obstacles 

than those told in the reading lesson. 

(d) Suggest an added obstacle in one of the 

cumulative tales and ask the children 
to point a way out of the difficulty. 


135 


NURSERY TALES FROM MANY LANDS 


II. Nature Work — 

The description in The Pear Tree forms a 
good basis for such nature work as build- 
ing of birds’ nests, growth of fruit-trees, etc. 

III. Simple History 

Stories suggestive of Indian life may follow 
the Indian tale of the Frolic of the Wild 
Things. 

IV. Picture-Making — 

The children may be asked to select and de- 
scribe pictures of situations that are not 
illustrated in the book. 


136 



I 







